Time (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

noun
  1. the system of those sequential relations that any event has to any other, as past, present, or future; indefinite and continuous duration regarded as that in which events succeed one another.
  2. duration regarded as belonging to the present life as distinct from the life to come or from eternity; finite duration.
  3. a system or method of measuring or reckoning the passage of time: mean time;apparent time;Greenwich Time.
  4. a limited period or interval, as between two successive events: a long time.
  5. a particular period considered as distinct from other periods: Youth is the best time of life.
  6. Often times .
    • a period in the history of the world, or contemporary with the life or activities of a notable person: prehistoric times;in Lincoln's time.
    • the period or era now or previously present: How times have changed!
    • a period considered with reference to its events or prevailing conditions, tendencies, ideas, etc.: hard times;a time of war.
  7. a prescribed or allotted period, such as the span of one's life, the term allowed for payment of a debt, etc.: The time she was given on this earth was short, but rich.Loans can be made for a maximum time of 10 years.
  8. the end of a prescribed or allotted period, as of one's life or a pregnancy: His time had come, but there was no one left to mourn over him.When her time came, her husband accompanied her to the delivery room.
  9. a period with reference to personal experience of a specified kind: to have a good time;a hot time in the old town tonight.
  10. a period of work of an employee, or the pay for it; working hours or days or an hourly or daily pay rate.
  11. a term of enforced duty or imprisonment: to serve time in the army;do time in prison.
  12. the period necessary for or occupied by something: The time of the baseball game was three hours and two minutes.The bus takes too much time, so I'll take a plane.
  13. leisure time; sufficient or spare time: to have time for a vacation;I have no time to stop now.
  14. a particular or definite point in time, as indicated by a clock: What time is it?
  15. a particular part of a year, day, etc.; season or period: It's time for lunch.
  16. an appointed, fit, due, or proper instant or period: a time for sowing;the time when the sun crosses the meridian;There is a time for everything.
  17. the particular point in time when an event is scheduled to take place: train time;curtain time.
  18. an indefinite, frequently prolonged period or duration in the future: Time will tell if what we have done here today was right.
  19. the right occasion or opportunity: to watch one's time.
  20. each occasion of a recurring action or event: to do a thing five times;It's the pitcher's time at bat.
  21. used as a multiplicative word in phrasal combinations expressing how many instances of a quantity or factor are taken together: Two goes into six three times;five times faster.
  22. one of the three unities.
  23. a unit or a group of units in the measurement of meter.
  24. Music.
    • tempo; relative rapidity of movement.
    • the metrical duration of a note or rest.
    • proper or characteristic tempo.
    • the general movement of a particular kind of musical composition with reference to its rhythm, metrical structure, and tempo.
    • the movement of a dance or the like to music so arranged: waltz time.
  25. rate of marching, calculated on the number of paces taken per minute: double time;quick time.
  26. each completed action or movement of the horse.
adjective
  1. of, relating to, or showing the passage of time.
  2. (of an explosive device) containing a clock so that it will detonate at the desired moment: a time bomb.
  3. payable at a stated period of time after presentment: time drafts or notes.
  4. of or relating to purchases on the installment plan, or with payment postponed.
verb (used with object), timed, tim·ing.
  1. to measure or record the speed, duration, or rate of: to time a race.
  2. to fix the duration of: The proctor timed the test at 15 minutes.
  3. to fix the interval between (actions, events, etc.): They timed their strokes at six per minute.
  4. to regulate (a train, clock, etc.) as to time.
  5. to appoint or choose the moment or occasion for; schedule: He timed the attack perfectly.
verb (used without object), timed, tim·ing.
  1. to keep time; sound or move in unison.
Idioms
  1. in an effort to finish something within a limited period: We worked against time to get out the newspaper.
  2. before the time due; early: The building was completed ahead of time.
  3. at one time,
    • once; in a former time: At one time they owned a restaurant.
    • at the same time; at once: They all tried to talk at one time.
  4. nevertheless; yet: I'd like to try it, but at the same time I'm a little afraid.
  5. at intervals; occasionally: At times the city becomes intolerable.
  6. to compete for or win a person being dated or courted by another; prevail over a rival: He accused me, his own brother, of trying to beat his time.
  7. old-fashioned; dated: These attitudes are behind the times.
  8. temporarily; for the present: Let's forget about it for the time being.
  9. on occasion; occasionally; at intervals: She comes to see us from time to time.
  10. to postpone in order to make preparations or gain an advantage; delay the outcome of: He hoped to gain time by putting off signing the papers for a few days more.
  11. in good time,
    • at the right time; on time; punctually.
    • in advance of the right time; early: We arrived at the appointed spot in good time.
  12. in a very brief time; almost at once: Working together, they cleaned the entire house in no time.
  13. in time,
    • early enough: to come in time for dinner.
    • in the future; eventually: In time he'll see what is right.
    • in the correct rhythm or tempo: There would always be at least one child who couldn't play in time with the music.
  14. keep time,
    • to record time, as a watch or clock does.
    • to mark or observe the tempo.
    • to perform rhythmic movements in unison.
  15. to occupy oneself with some activity to make time pass quickly: While I was waiting, I killed time counting the cars on the freight trains.
  16. make time,
    • to move quickly, especially in an attempt to recover lost time.
    • to travel at a particular speed.
  17. to pursue or take as a sexual partner.
  18. again and again; frequently: Many a time they didn't have enough to eat and went to bed hungry.
  19. mark time,
    • to suspend progress temporarily, as to await developments; fail to advance.
    • to move the feet alternately as in marching, but without advancing.
  20. during one's free time; without payment: He worked out more efficient production methods on his own time.
  21. on time,
    • at the specified time; punctually.
    • to be paid for within a designated period of time, as in installments: Many people are never out of debt because they buy everything on time.
  22. not in the proper rhythm: His singing was out of time with the music.
  23. to converse briefly with or greet someone: The women would stop in the market to pass the time of day.
  24. See entry at sign of the times.
  25. to be slow or leisurely; dawdle: Speed was important here, but he just took his time.
  26. again and again; repeatedly; often: I've told him time after time not to slam the door.
  27. repeatedly; often: Time and time again I warned her to stop smoking.
  28. (one's) age: At your time of life you must be careful not to overdo things.
  29. an extremely enjoyable experience: They had the time of their lives on their trip to Europe.
noun
    • the continuous passage of existence in which events pass from a state of potentiality in the future, through the present, to a state of finality in the past
    • (as modifier)
  1. a quantity measuring duration, usually with reference to a periodic process such as the rotation of the earth or the vibration of electromagnetic radiation emitted from certain atoms. In classical mechanics, time is absolute in the sense that the time of an event is independent of the observer. According to the theory of relativity it depends on the observer's frame of reference. Time is considered as a fourth coordinate required, along with three spatial coordinates, to specify an event
  2. a specific point on this continuum expressed in terms of hours and minutes
  3. a system of reckoning for expressing time
    • a definite and measurable portion of this continuum
    • (as modifier)
    • an accepted period such as a day, season, etc
    • (in combination)
  4. an unspecified interval; a while
  5. a period or point marked by specific attributes or events
  6. a sufficient interval or period
  7. an instance or occasion
  8. an occasion or period of specified quality
  9. the duration of human existence
  10. the heyday of human life
  11. a suitable period or moment
  12. the expected interval in which something is done
  13. a particularly important moment, esp childbirth or death
  14. indicating a degree or amount calculated by multiplication with the number specified
  15. the fashions, thought, etc, of the present age (esp in the phrases ahead of one's time, behind the times)
  16. British (in bars, pubs, etc) short for closing time
  17. a term in jail (esp in the phrase do time)
    • a customary or full period of work
    • the rate of pay for this period
  18. Also (esp US): metre
    • the system of combining beats or pulses in music into successive groupings by which the rhythm of the music is established
    • a specific system having a specific number of beats in each grouping or bar
  19. music short for time value
  20. a unit of duration used in the measurement of poetic metre; mora
  21. in an effort to complete something in a limited period
  22. before the deadline
  23. in due course
  24. continuously
  25. at one time
    • once; formerly
    • simultaneously
  26. at the same time
    • simultaneously
    • nevertheless; however
  27. sometimes
  28. (of a conductor, etc) to indicate the tempo or pulse of a piece of music by waving a baton or a hand, tapping out the beats, etc
  29. prematurely
  30. for the moment; temporarily
  31. at intervals; occasionally
  32. gain time See gain 1 (def. 9)
  33. to have no patience with; not tolerate
  34. in good time
    • early
    • quickly
  35. very quickly; almost instantaneously
  36. in one's own time
    • outside paid working hours
    • at one's own rate
  37. in time
    • early or at the appointed time
    • eventually
    • at a correct metrical or rhythmic pulse
  38. to observe correctly the accent or rhythmic pulse of a piece of music in relation to tempo
  39. (of a timepiece) to operate too slowly
  40. to do something without delay
  41. make time
    • to find an opportunity
    • to succeed in seducing
  42. See mark 1 (def. 35)
  43. at the last possible moment; at the critical moment
  44. on time
    • at the expected or scheduled time
    • payable in instalments
  45. to exchange casual greetings (with an acquaintance)
  46. alternately; turn and turn about
  47. frequently
  48. a period when one is absent from work for a holiday, through sickness, etc
  49. an additional period played at the end of a match, to compensate for time lost through injury or (in certain circumstances) to allow the teams to achieve a conclusive result
  50. from time immemorial
  51. a memorably enjoyable time
  52. operating automatically at or for a set time, for security or convenience
verb (tr)
  1. to ascertain or calculate the duration or speed of
  2. to set a time for
  3. to adjust to keep accurate time
  4. to pick a suitable time for
  5. to control the execution or speed of (an action, esp a shot or stroke) so that it has its full effect at the right moment
interjection
  1. the word called out by a publican signalling that it is closing time
    Time (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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